Bigger and better / HELP

So sweet Mr. Raymond has more or less decided he no longer needs an afternoon nap. It's pretty much the saddest thing ever. But I am coming to terms with it.

So much so, that I've decided since he won't take naps anyway,  we might has well move him out of the crib (that he has never climbed out of. Yep, he's scared of heights) and into a "big boy" bed. The other motivation for this is that I am a lazy mom and don't always get him out of his bed right when he wakes up in the morning... and thus he still has to wear a diaper to bed. Bad mom. So this might help with that.

Anyhow, thus begins the great debate at our house (ok so mostly in my  head except when Jeremy is around and then he pretends to listen to me debate it out with occasional "mm hmmm" comments). Do we get a twin bed? Or an IKEA "children's bed" (which is slightly longer than a normal toddler bed)?

The issue really is space. You see, the kids' bedroom is, um, more like the size of a big walk in closet. A mere seven (!!) feet wide. So a twin bed happens to be about six and half feet long... so it would, in fact, fit in the room. But it means we would not ever be able to fit three children in that room (and we will have THREE children in less than six months!!). Of course, we are also still debating whether or not we stay in this apartment... but that deserves another post altogether.  Sigh. I love my w/d hookups and three minute walk to the law school.

So in my late night debating, I finally decided to make a scale model of the kids' room and play with my options. Here's the visual of the two options:

OPTION 1: an IKEA Children's bed. Note that if we switched the crib to the other side of the room, there would still be space for a pack-n-play for the baby.

OPTION 2: A twin bed (either a standard twin, or an extra long--which we saw at Sam's Club)

These models are actually pretty accurate and according to scale (with my limited scaling abilities...). We don't really play in their room much, nor do we keep toys in there at all. Currently there is also a rocking chair in there, but it's falling apart and will go sometimes soon, regardless of the bed choice. If we do the smaller bed, it might stay longer, however.

So, THOUGHTS?? What would you do? I am at a TOTAL LOSS.

And then there were five

So call us crazy (we are!) but excited. 

I definitely am wearing maternity jeans. And craving crazing things like Chinese food (orange chicken, please) and Cafe Rio salads (sweet pork, please). And am so tired I might not even flinch in my sleep when you call at 8:45pm. 

But it'll be worth it around this time...

...when another little boy joins the family.

Ho hum here a little there a little

Tonight we re-enacted Samuel the Lamenite for FHE. Raymond was Samuel. He loved jumping off the wall. Ginny loved hoarding the beanbag (aka stones) and making piles.

I even got myself in gear and made a "treat" (lemon bars). It's maybe the third time in our whole married life I've made a treat for "family evening" (as Raymond calls it). It was a proud moment for the mama.

Between yesterday and today Ginny learned to say: Woody (we have a little Woody doll from Toy Story), Raymond (May-mon),  spider ("pider") and probably about ten other words I can't think of right now. I swear she already says some complete sentences ("where da dog do?" --Where (did) the dog go?). And she says things contextually correct 99% of the time. My favorite is "tan too" (Thank you) whenever she is given anything. She doesn't even need me to prompt her, she just says it).

Yesterday I said the prayer in Relief Society, and Ginny, right on cue, said "amen" at the end. The whole room smiled and cooed at her. She also (not as cute) screamed for "melk", applesauce, and "nanas" during the closing song and prayer in sacrament meeting. I need to bring more snacks to church, apparently. We are counting down until nursery (it will be an unbelievably long two and  half months of waiting).

With Raymond we have entered--with trepidation--into the realm of "games" on the "puter." He could hang out on sesemestreet.org as many hours of the day as I will let him. I just want to know: what did I do to deserve a child completely smitten with the wide world of media?  It seems quite unjust.

Excluding today (which we pretended was a normal Monday, not a holiday) we had an entire glorious weekend with Dad (aka Jeremy). No homework, no library runs, no law-school discussion even. I'm not going to lie, it was nice. Thank you Mr. President for creating a holiday weekend that allowed such a thing to be possible. We took drives, had date-night, enjoyed Dad's cooking, and watched movies just because. It was fun, laid back, and oh so needed.

And all-in-all, by-and-large we are happy and doing well. I still wish it were swimming weather here. But am coming to terms with snow instead. There are toys strewn everywhere always. But I've managed to read two books (and started another!) in the last week. And read a board books in between. So all is well.

What to do

(source)

So yesterday, in our Bountiful Basket, I got three (yes THREE) things of celery. Two of which were in the fruit section?

Anyhow, I'm at a loss. I like some celery and peanut butter now and again. Celery in my chicken noodle soup. Even celery in my salad is just fine.

But what am I going to do with three (heads?) things of them? I really can't imagine.

Do you have any stellar celery recipes up your sleeve? Everything I've found via google pretty much made me want to gag (fried celery? No thank you. Likewise to the braised celery. Even celery soup does not look or sound good).

I swear I remember Hermana Zalaya--the Relief Society president in Catacamas--on my mission in Honduras, making a celery sandwich in which she blended the celery--leaves and all. And, much to my surprise, it was good. But I can find (so far) no such recipe online.

Excuse me while I go eat some ants on a log as my before bed snack.

Dear Spring,

Oh, I know, I know, I know that you are at least two (or three) months away, dear friend, but I want you to know you are eagerly being awaited at our house.

I miss you so. Your blossoms. Your sunshine. You wonderful, beautiful, warmer weather. Please come quickly. I might go crazy if you don't. We (the kids and I anyway) haven't left the house for more than Wal-Mart and church in over a week. We are--literally--bouncing off the walls. The couches. The beds. And it's been like this for weeks and weeks.

We just want to go outside, you know. A little trip to the park would be nice. A walk round the block without scarves and mittens. 

A decreased fear of getting yet another head cold would also be nice. We are on round three and a bit tired of coughing and sneezing. 

Pretty, pretty, please (with a cherry on top!) come soon. I promise to enjoy your beauty and bounty with my whole heart.

Your faithful friend,

Carly

(source) 

Let the hearting begin

So I really love Valentine's day.

As in, I love it. It just might be my favorite holiday. So much less stressful than Christmas. So fun and RED and lovey. Low key, but choc full of fun and great traditions. And I sure love me some conversation hears. And chocolate. And anything else sweet that can be shaped into a heart...

Last year we made heart garlands and heart cut-outs, valentines of course, and heart sugar cookies (on the day of) which we walked around to all our friends and neighbors. I love sharing the love.

This year I have a whole slew of plans. Some of which include:

1. A new garland for sure. You can never have enough heart garlands. I'm still debating between some of these:

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2. We also definitely need some hearts hanging in our windows. I like these options:

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3. Then of course while we are hanging hearts, I think I'll just hang some from my ceiling (since it's so low... you know, basement dwelling) above my table. I love this chandelier:

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4. And for the giving of valentines this year (we have the tradition of making and giving to each other--both in our own little family, and with my brothers and sisters), at home I want some of these darling things:

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5. And well, for the food... I think all of February should be littered with heart goodies like some of these...

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And really, that's just for starters. I'm a little excited about this holiday this year. Tomorrow is my husband's birthday (during which the house will not be decorated with pink and red hearts...) but you better believe the festivities begin shortly thereafter! 

Sigh. I just can't wait!

The Potty Party Continues

Because who doesn't want to read about potty time? Oh, right. Sorry.

But today we had more successes than I imagined possible even yesterday. Today was a big day.

He went without me dragging him. FOUR TIMES. And he did #2. I tell you what, some ice cream was in order. I think maybe this  might be happening for real. As in, I might someday not have to ever change another diaper for this boy (I still do a diaper at night). This feels like a life altering moment.

Forgive the melodrama. I'm just one excited mama!

(Sorry little buddy. Don't hate me for this picture! You love your unders so much though!)

Not that I'm even remotely any kind of expert... but for the record, here's what's been working for us:

• This blogpost was my starting board. So I didn't expect anything but accidents in the beginning... and that was what I got. He was a little slower than she said he would be (50/50 by day three? No sir), but once I started doing a few other things, it's started coming together.
• One of those other main things is I put in potty in the front room. At first I didn't want to do this because I wanted him to get used to having to go to the bathroom. But it quickly became a BIG fight to get him in there. Once I left it out by his toys (and the computer... I did do a lot of movies this week, sadly. But I was sick, so give me some slack), he was more willign to go and sit for as long as I made him/it was necessary.
• We did some time without anything from the waist down. For a while in the beginning he felt like his underwear were diapers (and he kept calling them that... which was frustrating). When there wasn't anythign there he was more more prone to let me put him on the potty without a fight
• I let him play with toys, read books, sing songs, count while on teh potty. I did anythign to keep him there. Even watch a movie while he sat. Eventually (days later) he figured out how to let it out on the potty.
• The incentive to go was BIG for him.  Itotally should have done something smaller, but after days of little success, I pulled out the big guns. If he went he got ice cream (a really small bowl) or a pop cycle. I should have done a few skittles! But he would sit and sit and sit for that ice cream.
• The Elmo Potty movie saved our skins. Firstly because he loves Elmo.. and after watching it a few times in a row... he started commenting back with me about what they were saying and he was getting it. I would pause it and ask him, "what did Grover just say?" or "What do you do after you go potty?" I feel like this made it click. Then when he went, I would say, "you went potty like Elmo! That's awesome!"

And basically it is awesome (as anyone who has ever potty trained can attest). Now cross your fingers I didn't just jinx this for tomorrow by posting about it today! 

Oh and...

Miss Virginia turned one! (How did I forget that?!)

Ok, ok, it happened a month and a half ago. But it was still pretty exciting . She got two parties--one the Sunday before with Dad, and one a few days after in California with all her Aunts and Uncles and cousins. (Being the lame mom I am, I almost forgot to celebrate with her on her actual birthday (they day we drove to CA) since it wasn't one of the party days. Good thing she's too young to remember!)

It feels like a lot has happened in this sweet little lady's life since her birthday in November:

• She now walks exclusively
• She is a serious talker. She attempts and succeeds at new words every. single. day. My favorites are Thanks ("tnx"), please (pees), belly (be ye) and amen. (ame). She has started saying "no"... which isn't my favorite, but usually she says without relation to anything and it's adorable. I'm not ready for her to use it in context.  She is trying with her whole soul to get her mouth around "eat" and "more" without much vocal success... but I know what my little eater usually wants, so it's ok :)
• She has independently become a book worm. She  brings me book after book and climbs in my lap to read them. She definitively didn't used to do this.
• She gives hugs and kisses on demand. It's absolutely adorable.

Happy Birthday baby girl! We love you!

(Pictures from the party in CA. Taken by Aunt Tasha)

It's a party

Well hello there, friends.

It's been a while, hasn't it? Thanks for understanding.

Here's a quick recap of everything that's happened since, um, Halloween--when I last posted.

• The kids and I went to CA for Thanksgiving. It was everything I hoped for and more.
• The first semester of law school came and went. Grades are still(!!) pending (until Friday). I will just say that it was/is stressful for everyone involved.
• We spent a calm Christmas at home--and it was magical. 
• We went to Blanding over break and enjoyed some clean air, time with Grandma and Grandpa, and sleeping in.
• We have collectively or individually been sick for a month and half. I'm so sick of it (ha ha, pun not originally intended)
• We're potty training! And it's rough. Today is day five. Raymond has had exactly three non-accidents so far. But I am still hopeful. Wish us luck.

And I think that's a wrap. Now if my fuzzy, stuffy head will clear, and Raymond will stay dry, and lunch will make itself... I might be back soon.

Lots of love,

cj

Halloween 2011

I was really excited about trick or treating this year. As in, I started making costumes a full two weeks in advance. The day of, all I had left to do was make Ginny's treat bag. Not bad.

I was so ahead of time that Ginny's costume was done in time for Aunt Tasha (a much better photographer than me) to do a photoshoot. That means I didn't take a single picture of the girl on the 31st. And I do not feel guilty!

Here the little lady is...

 I used THIS tutorial by Prudent Baby. If I had had red fabric, she would have been red... but since I already had yards of this pink, well, she was a pretty little pink bird. I loved it.

Raymond's was a bit more work. About two weeks before the big day I sat down at the computer with Raymond at my lap. We googled images of "toddler costumes" and looked and looked and looked. What he really (insistently) wanted to be was a skeleton. Really. He's two. There was no way I was going to go with that. Not while I can convince him otherwise. I talked him into a cowboy.

I made the vest, chaps, and horse. Poor Max (the horse) didn't make it to trick or treating because he was so heavy. Next time I would make a sock horse instead of using this tutorial.

And since I'm lame, I only got two phone pictures. Alright, I do feel a little guilty about that. Sorry.

Earlier in the day I cooked (!!) a pumpkin and I made pumpkin soup (only Ginny would eat it... it was a total let down) and roasted seeds. I love me some pumpkin seeds. Trick or treating was interesting since there are only a handful of kids in our neighborhood. I think we made people's night by knocking on their doors. We saw only two other trick or treaters the whole night. Seriously. (And didn't get any ourselves. Boo.)

Raymond was pretty cute about it though. He wouldn't quite say "trick or treat" but when we got to a door would just start yelling instead of knocking. It was hilarious. He was pretty cute. All in all, it was a great Halloween!